SPOTLIGHT ON: MYRON H. RIDLON – Kezar Falls Druggist

 Myron Ridlon played an important role in the community as the local pharmacist and was known by everyone.  His soda fountain provided a popular spot for socializing by young and old alike. 

Myron H. Ridlon was born in Porter on August 14, 1883, a son of Herbert L. and Ella (Davis) Ridlon.  He was one of six children.  He attended local schools and in 1908 graduated from the University of Maine with a degree in pharmacy.  He worked in Portland, Presque Isle and North Conway to gain practical experience and passed the exam to become a registered pharmacist in February 1910.  

In April of 1910 he purchased the E. P. Ham drugstore located next to Norton Hardware on the Parsonsfield side of Kezar Falls Village.  After only a few weeks he sold the building and moved the business across the bridge to River Street, Porter on the ground floor of what later became the Garner Gym and Kezar Falls Fire Department building.  He remained there for 13 years.

In 1922 he bought property on Bridge Street next to the river and erected a two-story building with an apartment above, where he relocated in 1923. He continually upgraded the store many times over the years as he not only dispensed prescriptions and over the counter medicines, but had a soda fountain, sold ice cream and had a few tables for the comfort of his patrons.  As drugstores do today, he also sold magazines, funny books, personal items, etc. to his many customers so it was a popular drop-in spot for local residents not just for medicines.  He carried on his business; open from 6:00 am to 9:00 p.m. daily and 8:00 a.m. to 5:00 pm on Sunday for 43 years. He also had a side business as an insurance agent for 43 years.

He married Grace Ethel Davis on Sept. 11, 1906 and they had a son, M. George Ridlon, a daughter Eleanor (Ridlon) Ortlieb, three grandchildren and two great-grandchildren. 

Myron was an active member of the local community.  He was a charter member of the Kezar Falls-Cornish Kiwanis Club; a member of the Ossipee Lodge, Knights of Pythias; a member of the Riverside Methodist Church; a member of the Costello Tribe, IORM; and the Greenleaf Masonic Lodge.  He also was a member of the old Kezar Falls band, playing the cornet and baritone horn.  He was the founder of the “Colcord Bears”, a local men’s group who spent the first weekend in November deer hunting and the first weekend in February ice fishing every year for 26 years. 

Mr. Ridlon became ill and passed away at the age of 83, November 29, 1966 and is buried in the Kezar Falls Burial Grounds.  The drugstore closed at the time of his death and never reopened as a pharmacy.  His nephew, Myron Locke opened it as a variety store with the soda fountain and snack bar in January 1967.